AN AXE dating back to the Bronze Age has been unearthed by Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society.

The society has been working with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust at its Bickley Hall Farm office near Malpas and at Gowy Meadows in Ellesmere Port to discover what lies beneath local wildflower meadows.

During an exploration last year a Palstave axe, thought to date from the early-middle Bronze Age of 1500-1400 BC, was located just below the surface at the trust’s wildlife-friendly farm.

A similar dig at Gowy Meadows unearthed an array of medieval coins and artefacts, some stretching back almost 800 years to the 13th century.

Both digs were led by members of the Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society, and medieval sword hangers, a Middle Eastern ‘silver snake’, clothing buckles, musket balls and dozens of coins were also among the finds. With the 150 metal detectorists contributing a small fee to take part, it is hoped about £1,000 will have been raised.

Jacki Hulse, Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s head of estates and land management, said: “Many of our reserves and indeed our fields at Bickley Hall Farm have seen little in the way of heavy disturbance by man for many years, and it’s remarkable to think that we’re regularly walking just centimetres away from such a rich array of history.”

Neil Bradley, from Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society, added: “The events with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust have been very well-attended by our members and at Gowy Meadows the James VI of Scotland 1/8 Thistle-Merk and medieval book clasp were certainly impressive finds.

“The Palstave axe located at Bickley Hall Farm would have been critical to the livelihood of its Bronze Age owner, and perhaps in many ways would have been as crucial as a modern-day man losing his car or mobile phone.”